Welt bar operating means for straight bar knitting machines



1, 1959 K. P. BAUER ETAL 2,898,753

WELT BAR OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 16, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet l FlE- 'L 40 37 4/ 36 42 500/ 01/004755 /05 5/ 67 Ji unfit.-

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I 003 a5 3/ Gm 1 i /2/ A] IORNEY.

1959 K. P. BAUER ETAL 2,898,753

WELT BAR OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 16, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 F LE- E 5/ i w 5 J l I 9/ I I I .92 l 4/ 42 5 :85 as i I {ms mm: I

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I I I //6 [w Q i i 7P1 i o I INVENTORS. Kari RBauer GoWZ vb .Bii cr BY Herbert? .E'. Haahmll A TTORNEY.

Aug. 11, 1959 K. P. BAUER EI'AL WELT BAR OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 16, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet .5

1 N V EN TORS. Kiri 2 Bauer Faith], Biiger Herbal L. Haehnel 11, 1959 K. P. BAUER ETAL 2,398,753

WELT BAR OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 16, 1956 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Karl P Bauer 6031.1 .Biger BY Herbal 1'1 Haelvmlr g- 11, 1959 K. P. BAUER ETAL ,89

WELT BAR OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 16, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 g 97 m5 /00 as IN V EN TORS. Karl P Bauer Gflfilolr Bit gar 02 B Y Herberl E Haehml A TTORNE Y,

1, 1959 K. P. BAUER ETAL 2,898,753

WELT BAR OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 16, 1956 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 erlnerl E Haebn/d/ A TTORNE Y.

Aug. 11, 1959 K. P. BAUER ET AL WELT BAR OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Aug. 16, 1956 INVENTORS. flower Gafilob Bilgar BY Herberfi E HaehneZ ATTORNEY.

United States Patent WELT BAR OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Kurt P. Bauer, Wyomissing, Gottlob Bitzer, Lincoln Park, and Herbert E. Haehnel, Reading, Pa., assignors to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., :1 corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 16, 1956, Serial Nb. 604,391 15 Claims. (Cl. 66-96) This invention relates to improvements in knitting machines for forming fabric blanks such as for stockings or other garments having turned welt portions, and more particularly to mechanism for such machines having horizontally movable welt hooks employed in turning said welt portions and means for automatically disengaging the welt hooks from the blanks following the welt turning operation.

In present multisection straight bar machines for knitting full-fashioned stocking blanks, welt turning mechanism is usually provided for automatically forming and turning the welt portions of such blanks. In one common form of the welt turning mechanism, a welt bar having welt hooks is moved horizontally by pusher means to the needle row to engage the first course of loops of each welt fabric and the welt bar is then drawn from the needle row by a take-up strap to apply tension to the fabric. When a predetermined length of fabric is knitted the welt bar is again moved horizontal-1y toward the needle row to an intermediate position to fold the fabric around a welt rod and the welt rod then tensioned by straps to continue the fabric take-up action. After the welt fabric is completed, the welt bar is given a further horizontal movement toward the needles to return the first course of loops thereto to complete the welt turning operation without, however, disengaging the welt hooks from the fabric. Also, during this final movement of the welt bar the tension in the take-up strap connected thereto is completely released. As knitting of the fabric continues, the welt bar is carried away from the needle row by the fabric and when sufiicient slack is formed in the take-up strap the strap disengages itself from the welt bar. When the welt bar is moved a sufficient distance from the needle row it is manually rotated to disengage the welt hooks from the fabric but unless care is taken some of the welt hooks, particularly at the ends of the welt bar. remain engaged with the fabric thereby necessitating further manipulations of the welt bar to complete the disengagement.

After similarly disengaging all of the welt bars of the machine the take-up straps for the welt bars are reset and each welt bar is manually placed in engagement with its pusher means and the take-up strap again attached to the welt bar for the start of the next welt turning operation. When it is considered that each of the operations necessary to disengage the welt hooks from the fabric and to ready the welt bar for the next welt turning operation must be repeated for each section of the machine it will be readily apparent that considerable skill and effort are required on the part of the operator to maintain the high production standards expected of the present multisection knitting machines.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means in a full-fashioned knitting machine of the type described for automatically operating the welt bars to disengage the welt hooks of the welt bars from the fabric loops following the welt turning operation of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide means Patented Aug. 11, 1959 in a machine for knitting a multiplicity of fabric blanks and having welt bars of the horizontally movable type, for simultaneously operating all of the welt bars to disengage the welt hooks in the bars from the fabrics.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel method of operating the welt bars of a knitting machine to disengage the welt hooks from the fabric loops initially engaged thereby and for returning the welt bars to their starting position preparatory for the start of the next welt turning operation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novel method of operating the welt bars and the tension means therefor to release the tension applied to the welt bars, to rotate the welt bars to disengage the welt hooks from the fabrics, to rotate the welt bars and move them to starting position and to reapply the tension to the welt bars, preparatory for the start of the next welt turning operation.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative and practical embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention comprises the novel method steps, elements, features of construction and combination of parts in cooperative relationship, as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view partly in elevation and partly in cross section taken transversely through a full-fashioned knitting machine having mechanism applied thereto for forming turned welt portions of fabric blanks and means according to the invention for unhooking the welt hooks from the blanks;

Fig. 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the mechanism as seen from the top of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale of certain of the mechanism shown at the upper part of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing of the mechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of a portion of the knitting machine illustrating a pattern chain device and certain of the operating and control means according to the invention;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to a portion of the mechanism shown at the right of Fig. 6 and enlarged relative to Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view on an enlarged scale partly in elevation and partly in cross section of a portion of the mechanism taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along the line 99 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along the line l111 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1, the parts being shown in one of the operating positions of the mechanism;

Fig. 15 is a view on a reduced scale of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8, the parts being in a position corresponding to the position of the mechanism shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a detailed view partly in cross section of the welt bar as positioned immediately preceding the position of the welt bar shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 16 of the welt bar as positioned in Fig. 14;

other parts Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 14 with the parts shown in different positions relative to Fig. 14;

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 15 with the parts shown in the position corresponding to the position of the mechanism in Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 18 with the parts being shown in different positions relative to Fig. 18; and

Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 19 with the parts shown in a position corresponding to the position of the mechanism in Fig. 20.

The mechanism shown in the drawings comprises portions of a multisection full-fashioned knitting machine embodying the novel features of the invention. More specifically the mechanism shown comprises portions of a usual means for turning the welt portions of stocking blanks knitted on the machine including Welt bars of the horizontally movable type and portions of the take-up means for the welt bars. Also shown, according to the instant invention, is means for operating the Welt bars of the welt turning means in a manner to unhook the welt bars from the blanks following the turning of the welts and the method steps followed in conditioning the various parts for the start of the next welt turning operation.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings there is shown a portion of the usual framework of a multisection fullfashioned knitting machine including one of a series of transverse center frames 25, a front beam 26, a back beam 27, a center bed and a front bed or table 31, the beams and beds being secured to the center frames and end frames (not shown) in the usual manner. A camshaft 32 carries cams (not shown) for operating a bar 35 supporting a bank of needles 36 which in conjunction with sinkers 37 and dividers 40 slidably carried in a sinker-head 41 knit fabric blanks, portions of which are shown at 42 in Fig. 2, each of the blanks having a folded welt portion 45.

In forming a blank 42 in each section of the machine, the first course of loops of the welt portion 45 are caught or engaged by welt hooks 46 carried in a bar 47 having its ends slidably supported in a horizontal position on bridge members 50 which are secured in spaced relation along the front bed 31. For so engaging the first course of loops, the bar 47 is advanced toward the needles 36 on the bridge members 50 by means of pusher arms 51 each of which carries a pin 52 for engagement with a spring clip 55 secured to the bar adjacent to each end thereof. Following engagement of the first course of loops by the welt hooks 46 the bar 47 is tensioned to take up the welt portion by straps 56 each of which carries a closed hook member 57 at one end for engagement with a hook member 60 secured to the bar (Figs. 2 and 16). The other ends of the straps 56 are connected to reels 61 carried on a shaft 62 which is rotated by weights 63 connected to the shaft 62 by a rope 64 (Fig. 14) to apply tension to the straps in a usual manner. When a predetermined length of welt fabric is complete the welt bar 47 is partially advanced toward the needles 36 by the arms 51 to fold the welt fabric around a rod 65 which is engaged. adjacent to its ends, by hooks 66 each of which is connected to a take-up strap 67. The other ends of the straps 67 are attached to a reel 70 carried on a shaft 71 which is rotated by means (not shown) to apply tension to the straps 67.

When the desired length of fabric for the welt is completed the arms 51 are operated to advance the welt bar 47 to position the welt hooks 46 relative to the needles 36 to return the loops on the welt hooks back to the needles without, however, disengaging the welt books from the fabric loops. At this time the tension in the straps 56 is released by latching the shaft 62 against the action of the weights 63. For this purpose the shaft 62 carries a collar 72 having a notch 75 which is engaged by a latch lever 76 pivotally mounted on a pin 77 secured to a fixed part of the framework of the machine. The construction of the mechanism and its operation to turn the welt portion 45 forms no part of the instant invention and is only generally set forth above. For further details of this known structure and its operation, reference may be made to US. Patent No. 2,431,160, issued to G. Bitzer, November 18, 1947, and No. 2,601,768, issued to H. Haehnel, July 1, 1952.

In the further operation of the machine of Patent No. 2,431,160, as knitting of the blanks continued, the blanks were tensioned and drawn away from the needles 36 by elements corresponding to the rod 65 and straps 67 under the control of the shaft 71. At this time the bar 47 and welt hooks 46 which are still engaged in the fabric loops were also drawn away from the needles by the fabrics. Also, at this time each of the hooks connecting the welt bars and take-up straps, which were of the open end type, were disconnected by gravity from the welt bars. When the welt bars reached a certain point beyond the needles, each welt bar was manually flipped or rolled over to disconnect the welt hooks from the fabrics. When all of the welt bars 47 were disconnected from their respective fabrics the reel shaft was released for movement in the take-up direction to reposition the straps for the welt bars for the start of the next welt forming cycle as set forth in said Patent No. 2,601,768. The welt bars were then reengaged with the pins in the pusher arms and the takeup straps attached to the welt bars.

According to the instant invention, following the return of the loops on the hooks 46 to the needles 36 and with the shaft 62 held by the latch lever 76 to release the tension of the straps 56 and the pusher arms 51 returned to the starting position of Figs. 2 and 3, and as knitting of the blanks continues, the welt bars 47 are carried in the take-up direction by the fabric. As the welt bars 47 are so moved, slack is formed in the take-up straps 56 (Fig. 5) which remain attached to the welt bars due to the closed structure of the hook members 57, as hereinbefore set forth. When the welt bars 47 have moved a predetermined distance in the take-up direction, the bars are simultaneously and automatically rotated about an axis defined by the ends of the welt hooks until the welt bars are tilted slightly beyond a vertical line from which position the welt bars are further rotated through their own inertia, to horizontal positions which are the reverse of their horizontal positions during the welt turning op eration, to unhook the welt hooks from the fabrics.

For the purpose of guiding the welt bar during its rotative movement the welt bar has a bracket 80 secured to each end thereof as by screws 79. Each of the brackets 80 is provided with a flange portion 81 having a rounded end 82 merging into a cam surface 83 (Fig. 16). The rounded ends 82 of the portions 81 are adapted to engage the upper surfaces of the bridge members 50 as the welt bar 47 is rotated to raise the welt bar to pull the bights of the welt hooks tightly against the fabric as shown in Fig. 16. With the welt hooks so held by the fabric the ends of the welt hooks act as the pivotal point about which the welt bar 47 is rotated. Due to the positioning of flange portions 81 on the welt bar 47 beyond or rearward ly of the hook side of the welt hooks and the shape of cam surfaces 83 the books will maintain a constant upward pull on the fabric as the welt bar continues its rotative movement from the position of Fig. 16 to the position of Fig. 17 until the hooks reach such a position that they slip out of the fabric.

For rotating the welt bar 47 each flange portion 81 carries a pin 85 having a tapered portion 86 (Fig. 4) which is adapted to be engaged by a cam surface 87 on a lever 88 the tapered portions of the pins and the cam surfaces acting to center the welt bar 47 relative to the bridge members 50. The lever 88 is secured to one end of a short pin or shaft 90 (Fig. 10) which is pivotally carried in a bracket 91 secured to the front bed 31 by screws 92. and extends between adjacent machine sections, except at the ends of the machine, as shown in Figs. 2 and 9. Preferably as shown in Fig. 2, one of the shafts 90 carries a pair of levers 88, one at each end thereof for engagement with a pin in each of the adjacent ends of the welt bars 47 in the adjoining knitting sections, it being understood, however, that the shafts at the outer ends of the end machine sections each has only a single lever 88. Each of the levers 88 is provided with a hooked end portion which acts to limit the upward movement of the welt bar 47 during its rotative movement and a flat portion 96 which engages the upper surface of the front bed 31 to determine the rest or inactive position of the lever.

For operating the levers 88 to rotate the welt bar 47 one of the levers 88 of each pair is pivotally connected by a pin 97 to one end of a link 100 (Figs. 9 and 10). The other end of the link 100 is pivotally carried on the reduced end 101 of a shouldered stud 102 secured in one end of a push rod 105 (Figs. 11 and 13),. the link being retained in position on the pin 97 and stud 102 by snap washers 106. The push rod 105 is guided for movement along one side of a bridge member 50 by studs 107 threadably secured in the bridge member, the studs halving enlarged portions 110 interfitting in elongated slots 111 in the push rod as shown in Figs. 3, 9, l1 and 12. The push rod 105 carries a pin 112 which is slidably engaged in an elongated slot 115 in the free end of a lever 116 secured to a shaft 117 pivotally mounted in bearing brackets 120 spaced along and secured to the front bed 31 (Figs. 2 and 5). The shaft 117 and lever 116 are normally positioned to maintain one end of the slots 111 against the portions 110 of the studs 107, as shown in Figs. 3 and 12, by a spring 122 which is connected between an arm 125 secured to the shaft 117 and a fixed part of the machine (Figs. 2 and 5). The shaft 117 also carries a lever 121 the free end of which is biased by the spring 122 into resilient engagement with a collar 126 secured to the upper end of a rod 127. The rod 127 passes through an opening 130 in the end of the level 121 and has a clevis 131 which is pivotally connected by a pin 132 to a lever 135. The lever 135 is mounted for pivotal movement on a pin 136 carried in a bracket 137 which is secured to the back beam 27 (Fig. 1). The lever 135 rotatably carries a roller type follower 140 for engagement with a cam 141 mounted on the camshaft 32, the follower being biased toward engagement with the cam by a spring 142 connected between the lever and a hook member 145 secured to the front beam.

Normally the lever 135 is held against the bias of the spring 142 with the follower 140 at the level of a high portion 146 of the cam 141 in which position the collar 126 on the rod 127 is engaged with the free end of the lever 121. For this purpose the free end of the lever 135 is supported on an upper end 147 of a lever 150 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 151 fixed in a bracket 152 secured on the front beam 26. The free end of a lower arm 155 of the lever 150 is held in resilient engagement 'with a lug 156 secured to a rod 157 by means of a spring 160 which is connected between the free end of the arm and a collar 161 secured to the rod (Figs. 6 and 7). The rod 157 is one of the usual control rods which is sup ported for sliding movement along the front of the front beam 26 in brackets 162 secured to the front beam 26. The rod 157 extends along the front beam 26 and is adapted to be engaged by the lower end of one of a series of pattern levers 165 forming part of a common pattern device 166 and including a chain 167 which is advanced to control the various operating mechanisms of the machine (not shown) in a usual manner. A button 170 on the chain 167 operates the lever 165 to shift the rod 157 to the left and turn the lever 150 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 7 to remove the end 147 from beneath the lever 135. Removal of the end 147 of lever 150 permits the follower 140 on the lever 135 to ride from the high portion 146 of the cam 141 to a low portion 171 of the cam to operate the shaft 117 and lever 116 as hereinbefore set forth. When the button 170 is removed from beneath the lever 165 the lever and rod 157 are biased toward the right by a compression spring 172 which is carried on the rod between one of the brackets 162 and a collar 175 fixed on the rod (Fig. 6). Movement of the rod 157 turns the lever 150 counterclockwise to position the end 147 beneath the lever 135 when the follower 140 again engages the high portion 146 of the earn 141.

When the button 170 on the chain 167 operates the lever 150 to release lever 135 so that the lever 135 is permitted to follow the contour of the cam 141 to rotate the shaft 117 counterclockwise and rotate the levers 88 in the same direction, as hereinbefore set forth, it is necessary to temporarily maintain the lovers in the position shown in Fig. 14. For this purpose the shaft 117 carries a collar 176 having a notch 177 which is engaged by a hook end 179' of one arm 180 of a lever 181 pivotally mounted on the shaft 71 (Fig. 8). The lever 181 has a second arm 182 which is adapted to be engaged by a cam 185 fixed on the shaft 62 to operate the lever 181 to disengage the hook end of the arm 180 from the notch 177 whereupon the levers 88, push rods 105 and levers 116 are returned to their positions of Figs. 3 and 5 by the spring 122 as hereinafter set forth. The lever 181 is biased in a clockwise direction by a spring 186 which is connected between the am 182 and a fixed part of the machine (Figs. 1 and 8).

Following the return of the initial row of loops to the needles by the welt bar, as knitting of the blank continues it is drawn away from the needles 36 by the take-up straps 67. At this time the fabric, which remains engaged with the welt hooks, draws the welt bar 47 in the take-up direction which results in slack being formed in the take-up straps 56. As the welt bar 47 reaches the position of Fig. 5 the button 170 on the chain 167 is advanced to actuate the pattern lever 165 to move the rod 157 to the left as viewed in Fig. 6. Movement of the rod 157 to the left in turn causes the spring 160 to turn the lever 150 clockwise to release the lever 135 thereby permitting the lever 135 to turn clockwise as it follows the contour of cam 141 from the high portion 146 to the low portion 171 of the cam (Fig. 1). This movement of the lever 135 turns the shaft 117 and lever 116 counterclockwise to move the push rods 105 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, to turn the levers 88 counterclockwise into engagement with the pins 85 in the welt bar 47. With the welt hooks 46 held by the fabric, as the levers 88 continue to turn, the pins 85 ride up the cam surfaces 87 of the levers to roll or rotate the welt bar 47 onto the ends 82 of the flange portions 81 as shown in dotand-dash outline in Fig. 14 and in full lines in Fig. 16. From this position the welt bar is carried by a combination of inertia and gravity to the full line horizontal position shown in Figs. 14 and 17 to disengage the welt hooks 46 from the fabric loops. At this time the shaft 117 and collar 176 have been positioned to permit the spring 186 to turn the lever 181 to engage the hook end 179 of arm 180 with the notch 177 in the collar to hold the levers 88 in the position of Fig. 15. During a subsequent actuation of the pattern chain 167 the button 170 is removed from beneath the lever 165 and as the lever 135 follows the contour of the cam 141 from the low portion 171 to the high portion 146 to raise the lever 135, the rod 157 is shifted to the right by the spring 172 to move the end 147 of the lever 150 beneath the end of the lever (Fig. 6). Also, at this time the rod 127 is raised to disengage the collar 126 from the end of the lever 121.

As soon as the welt hooks 46 have been chs engaged from the fabric loops, the latch lever 76 is released from the notch 75 in the collar 72 and the shaft 62 manually controlled to permit the weights 63 to rotate the shaft one revolution in the clockwise direction to lower the weights 63 from a high position of Fig. 14 to the low position of Fig. 20 and the latch lever again engaged with the notch 75. During this clockwise rotation of the shaft 62, the take-up straps 56 are wound upon the reels 61 to remove the slack from the straps and to pull the welt bars 47 toward the levers 88 until the tapered portions 86 of the pins 85 in the ends of the Welt bars engage the cam surfaces 87 of the levers, as shown in Fig. 18. Then as the shaft 62 continues to rotate in the clockwise direction, the pins 85 rise along the surfaces 87 on the levers 88, to rotate the welt bars clockwise on the flanges 81 to a position corresponding substantially to the position of Fig. 16. From this position, continued movement of the straps 56 in the take-up direction causes the welt bars to pivot about the pins 85 to move the flanges 81 toward the needles 36 which changes the center of gravity of the bars so that the weight of the bars will cause them to rotate to the position of Fig. 5. Continued rotation of the shaft 62 causes the high portion of the cam 185 to engage the arm 182 and turn the lever 181 to disengage the hook end 179 from the notch 177 in the collar 176 (Figs. 19 and 2l) to release the shaft 117. Upon release of the shaft 117, the shaft is turned clockwise to return the parts to the position of Figs. 3 and 5, in which position the end of the lever 121 again engages the collar 126 on rod 127. As the shaft 62 continues to rotate the welt bars 47 are moved to engage the spring clips 55 thereon with the pins 52 in the pusher arms 51 for the start of the next welt turning operation.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described by which the above results are obtained, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

1. In a straight bar knitting machine for forming flat blanks having needles, and welt turning mechanism including a welt bar and welt hooks for engagement with the blank, in combination with means for disengaging said welt hooks from said blank following the welt turning operation comprising means for engaging and rolling said welt bar with the point of engagement of the hooks with the blank as a pivot from a position in which said hooks extend toward said needles to a position in which said hooks extend away from said needles.

2. in a straight bar knitting machine having needles and welt turning mechanism including a welt bar and welt hooks therein for forming a turned welt portion on a flat stocking fabric, in combination with means for disengaging said welt hooks from said fabric following a welt turning operation including pins in the ends of said welt bar, lever means, means for operating said lever means to engage said pins for rolling said welt bar with the point of engagement of the hooks with the fabric as a pivot from a position in which said welt hooks extend toward said needles to a position in which said welt hooks extend away from said needles, and means on said welt bar for supporting and guiding said welt bar during its rolling movement to disengage said welt hooks from said fabric.

3. In a straight bar knitting machine having needles and welt turning mechanism including a welt bar, welt hooks in said welt bar, means for supporting said welt bar in horizontal position for movement toward and away from said needles and means for moving said welt bar for forming a turned welt portion on a flat fabric blank. in combination with means for disengaging said welt hooks from said blank following a welt turning operation including pivoted levers, means for operating said levers to engage and roll said welt bar over to a horizontal position reversed to the first mentioned horizontal position of said welt bar and means on said welt bar for engaging said supporting means and acting to guide said welt bar during its rolling movement to disengage said welt hooks from said fabric 4. In a straight bar knitting machine having needles and welt turning mechanism including a welt bar, welt hooks in said welt bar, means for supporting said welt bar in horizontal position for movement toward and away from said needles and means for moving said welt bar to form a turned welt portion on a fiat fabric blank, in combination with means for rolling said welt bar over to reverse the horizontal position of said welt bar to disengage said welt hooks from said fabric, means to roll said welt bar back to its initial position, and flange means on said welt bar, said flange means engaging said supporting means to guide said welt bar during its rolling movements.

5. In a straight bar knitting machine having needles and welt turning mechanism including a welt bar, welt hooks in said welt bar, means for supporting said welt bar in horizontal position for movement toward and away from said needles and means for moving said welt bar on said support means for forming a turned welt portion on a flat fabric blank, in combination with means for disengaging said welt hooks from said blank following a welt turning operation including levers, means for operating said levers to engage and roll said welt bar to reverse the horizontal position of said welt bar, means on said bar for engagement with said supporting means to guide said welt bar during its rolling movement to disengage said welt hooks from said fabric, and pattern means for controlling said lever operating means.

6. In a straight bar knitting machine having needles and welt turning mechanism including a welt bar, welt hooks in said bar, means for supporting said welt bar in horizontal position for movement toward and away from said needles and means for moving said welt bar on said supporting means for forming a turned welt portion on a fiat fabric blank, in combination with means for disengaging said welt hooks from said blank following a welt turning operation including pivoted levers, a cam operated lever for operating said pivoted levers to engage and roll said welt bar to a horizontal position reverse to said first mentioned horizontal position of said welt bar to disengage said welt hooks from said fabric, means on said welt bar for engagement with said supporting means to guide said welt bar during its rolling movement, a member for supporting said cam operated lever in inactive position, and pattern means for releasing said cam operated lever for movement to active position.

7. In a straight bar knitting machine having needles and welt turning mechanism including a welt bar, welt hooks in said welt bar, means for supporting said welt bar in horizontal position, means for moving said welt bar from an inactive position toward and away from said needles to form a turned welt portion on a flat fabric blank, means for rolling said welt bar over to reverse the horizontal position of said welt bar on said supporting means following a welt turning operation to disengage said welt hooks from said fabric, flange means on said welt bar engageable with said supporting means and adapted to guide said welt bar during its rolling movement, and means for reversely rolling said welt bar to return said welt bar to its initial horizontal position, said last mentioned means also acting to return said welt bar to inactive position.

8. In a straight knitting machine having needles, a welt bar, welt hooks in said welt bar, means for supporting said welt bar in horizontal position for movement toward and away from said needles, means for moving said welt bar on said supporting means for forming a turned welt portion on a flat fabric blank, tapered pins in the end of said welt bar, pivoted levers for engaging said tapered pins, means for moving said pivoted levers from an inactive position to an active position to engage and roll said welt bar over to reverse the horizontal position of said welt bar and disengage said welt hooks from said fabric, flange means on said welt bar for engagement with said supporting means to guide said welt bar during its rolling movement, latch means for holding said pivoted levers in active position, means for reversely rolling said welt bar to return said welt bar to its initial position, said pivoted levers acting when in latched position to support said welt bar during said reverse rolling movement and coacting with said tapered pins to center said welt bar during both of said rolling movements.

9. In a straight knitting machine having needles and welt turning mechanism including a welt bar, welt hooks in said welt bar, means for supporting said welt bar in horizontal position for movement toward and away from said needles, means for moving said welt bar on said supporting means for forming a turned welt portion on a fiat fabric blank, pivoted levers for engaging opposite ends of said welt bar, means for moving said pivoted levers from an inactive position to an active position to engage and roll said welt bar over to reverse the horizontal position of said welt bar to disengage said welt books from said fabric, flange means on said welt bar for engagement with said supporting means to guide said welt bar during its rolling movement, latch means for holding said pivoted levers in said active position, means for reversely rolling said welt bar to return said welt bar to its initial horizontal position, said pivoted levers acting to support said welt bar during said reverse movement, means for releasing said latch means, and means for returning said pivoted levers to inactive position.

10. In a method of operating a welt bar of a fullfashioned knitting machine comprising advancing said welt bar from an inactive position toward the needles of said machine to engage a first course of loops of a fabric, tensioning said welt bar to withdraw the loops engaged thereby away from the needles, advancing said welt bar to return said first course of loops to the needles without disengaging said welt bar from said loops, releasing the tension on said welt bar, moving said welt bar away from said needles, the improvement comprising rolling said welt bar over to disengage it from said loops, and applying tension to said welt bar to roll said welt bar back to its initial position and to return said welt bar to said inactive position.

11. In a method of operating a welt bar during the formation of a fiat fabric blank on a straight bar knitting machine comprising advancing said welt bar from an inactive position toward a row of needles of said machine to engage a first course of loops of said fabric, tensioning said welt bar to draw the loops engaged thereby away from said needles, advancing said welt bar to return said first course of loops to the needles without disengaging said welt bar from said loops, releasing the tension on said welt bar, tensioning said fabric to draw said fabric and welt bar away from said needles, the improvement comprising rolling said welt bar over to disengage it from said loops, applying tension to said welt bar to roll said welt bar back to its initial position and to return said welt bar to said inactive position.

12. In a method of operating a straight bar knitting machine having means for knitting and turning a welt portion of a flat fabric blank including a welt bar, welt hooks in said welt bar and take-up means for applying tension to said welt bar, the steps of arresting said takeup means to release the tension on said welt bar without disengaging the take-up means from said welt bar, the improvement comprising rolling said welt bar over to disengage said welt hooks from said fabric blank, reapplying tension to said take-up means to roll said welt bar back to its original position and to return said welt bar to an inactive position for the start of the next welt turning operation, and again arresting said take-up means in a position to apply tension on said welt bar to maintain it in said inactive position.

13. In a straight bar knitting machine having needles r nd welt turning mechanism including a welt bar, welt books in said welt bar. take-up means for applying tension to said welt bar, and means for advancing said welt bar for forming a closed welt portion on a flat fabric blank, a method of disengaging said welt hooks from said fabric blank and for returning said welt bar to starting position for the next welt turning operation comprising the steps of, arresting said take-up means to release the tension on said welt bar without disconnecting said take-up means from said welt bar, rolling said welt bar over to disengage said welt hooks from said fabric, releasing said take-up means to reapply tension to said welt bar to roll it back to its original position and to return said welt bar to a position for the start of the next welt turning operation, and again arresting said take-up means in position to apply tension on said welt bar to maintain it in said starting position.

14. in a method of operating a straight bar knitting machine having mechanism for forming a fiat fabric blank and means for forming a turned welt portion on said blank including, needles, a welt bar, welt hooks in said welt bar, take-up means for applying tension to said welt bar to draw it away from said needles, means for advancing said welt bar horizontally toward said needles with said welt hooks extending toward said needles, and means for supporting said welt bar during movement toward and away from said needles, said method comprising arresting said take-up means to re lease the tension on said welt bar without disconnecting said take-up means from said welt bar, rolling said welt bar on said supporting means to a horizontal position in which said welt hook extends away from said needles to unhook said welt books from said fabric, releasing said take-up means to reapply tension to said welt bar while holding said welt bar against movement away from said needles to roll said welt bar back to its original position, moving said welt bar with respect to said advancing means for the start of the next welt turning operation, and again arresting said take-up means in a position to apply tension on said welt bar to maintain it in said starting position.

15. In a method of operating a straight bar knitting machine having mechanism for forming a fiat fabric blank and means for forming a turned welt portion on said blank including needles, a welt bar, welt hooks in said welt bar, take-up means for applying tension to said welt bar and means for advancing said welt bar toward said needles, said method comprising arresting said take-up means to release the tension on said welt bar without disconnecting said take-up means from said welt bar, rolling said welt bar over to disengage said welt hooks from said blank, releasing said take-up means to reapply tension to said welt bar to roll it back to its original position and to a position with respect to said advancing means for the start of the next welt turning operation, and again arresting said take-up means in a position to apply tension on said welt bar to maintain it in said starting position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,396,263 Hofmann et a1. Mar. 12, 1946 2,618,948 Brown et al. Nov. 25. 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 886,202 Germany Aug. 13, 1953 1,027,369 France Feb. 18, 1953 

